HELP! What should I add to my TBR?? I'm in that blah vibe where none of the things on it sound good at the moment. Some authors I've loved recently are Miriam Toews, Sarai Walker, Patrick Raden Keefe, and Ann Patchett.

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fairuseabby · Answer

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi: Addresses generational trauma, religion, and science without glorifying or glossing over the complex parts. A beautiful read.

Varsha · Answer

little fires everywhere- Celeste Ng: I’m reading this book right now and not even fully finished, but I just HAD to recommend it. I got it for free at a pop up on my college campus so I started reading it (out of obligation since I got it for free), and it has turned out to be one of my fav books I’ve ever read. The only way to describe this book is that it’s sooo empathetic and makes you feel empathy for every single character, which makes me more empathetic for people in real life. I literally can’t tear my eyes away from it.

Jess · Answer

Curious Toys (Elizabeth Hand): A gripping mystery set in 1915 Chicago, featuring a teenage girl who passes as a boy and the outsider artist Henry Darger. What made the book so successful for me was the combination of rich historical texture and contemporary concerns. While other authors often have to rely on shorthand and cameos by famous people, Hand is so good at making the period come alive through everyday details, from how many shirts Pin owns to how much it costs to buy a meal. At the same time, the book doesn't shy away from challenging the reader to look at the ways that girls are exploited for pleasure and profit, and how queerness can be a source of both resistance and vulnerability.